The National League Pitcher of the Month for May, Wellemeyer
(7-1) scattered five hits with a walk and five strikeouts. He
was 4-0 with a 2.19 ERA in six May starts.

"I'm really not trying to think too much about (my success),"
Wellemeyer said. "Just keep doing what I'm doing and not get
ahead of myself. Every start is different."

Wellemeyer needed to pitch well because the Cardinals could not
do much against Nationals starter John Lannan (4-6). The only
mistake he made resulted in Troy Glaus' two-run home run in the
fourth inning.

Wellemeyer entered the year with only nine career wins, but
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is not surprised by the success
of the career journeyman who is with his fourth major league
organization.

"He is a complete pitcher," La Russa said. "He throws fastballs
on both sides of the plate, up and down. He has four pitches.
He's very strong and tough to run on."

Wellemeyer made the slim lead hold up, working around a single
to Elijah Dukes in the fifth and a walk to Kory Castro in the
sixth.

"Most of our hits and walks came with two outs," Washington
manager Manny Acta said. "We couldn't get anything going with
two outs, especially with runners in scoring position."

The Cardinals finally added some insurance in the seventh
against Nationals reliever Joel Hanranhan.

St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols, who is nursing a sore calf, did
not start Thursday's game. But he came off the bench to hit a
solo shot in the seventh, his first career homer as a pinch
hitter. The Cardinals made it 4-0 later in the frame on Joe
Mather's RBI double.

"I wanted to be ready in case Tony needed me, so I took BP
early, did my routine and got loose," Pujols said. "I think
that helped to get myself ready. I feel better, but I
understand (La Russa) does not want to push it."

After holding the Cardinals hitless over the first three
innings, Lannan allowed a leadoff single in the fourth to Ryan
Ludwick, who stole second and scored on Glaus' fifth homer of
the season.

"It's nice to hit (homers), no doubt about it," Glaus said.
"But as I've said a hundred times before, scoring runs and
driving in runs is my role on this team."

Lannan surrendered two runs and four hits in six innings before
giving way to Hanrahan.

"I had to battle," Lannas said. "I really didn't have my
command. It was hot. I was a little thrown off with the rain
delay last night."

The Nationals scored their only run on Felipe Lopez's RBI single
off Randy Flores in the eighth. Washington has managed only
eight runs in Lannan's last four starts.

"The hits are going to come," he said of the lack of support.
"You just have to keep going. You can't think about it too
much."